Belt Sander - Sears???

N

nailcreek

Joined
Sep 21, 2003
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I've been thinking of buying a belt sander on the cheap and I found this one at sears.com. While I know it's not professional grade, I'm not a professional! I understand that the smaller 1X30" belt sanders really aren't made for stock removal knife making, so I was thinking that this one might be more suitable ... the price is definitely right at $130 and it appears there are belts available in multiple grits.

Comments, please?

Craftsman 2 x 42 in. Belt/6 in. Disc Sander

2/3 hp max. dev. motor. Belt speed is 4400 fpm. Belt arm operates vertically and horizontally. Table tilts to 45 deg. Disc rotates at 3450 rpm. 1-1/4 in. dust collection port on disc table.

Sears item #00921513000
Mfr. model #21513
 
I have a sears 2 x 42 as well. So far so good but then ive only worked on one blade with it.
 
My first Knife grinder was a Sears 2 x 42 machine and I made better than 100 knives with it.

Mine had a 8 or 9 inch disc though and a 1hp motor. It was just under $200.00 If Sears is still making the 1hp model I'd opt for it.
 
One of my students grinds on the 2 X 42 Sears and I just put a piece of harden O-1 on his platen this makes it alot easyer in doing the plunge cuts. His grinds are dead on now. You also can run 1 x 42 belts on it and slack belt grind on the handles. It is a nice grinder to start off with.
 
A few problems you are going to run into are belt tracking and lack of quality belts. Still, it's better than filing bevels by hand.
 
I must agree with danbo on this one, ive already noticed that you must continually adjust the belt tracking, but like was said it beats doing it by hand.
 
I had no tracking problems with the unit I used for years.

As for belts go to Super Grit

They carry 2 x 42 belts in Blue Zircona, Ceramic, A.O. and Silicon Carbide. I used to get ceramics for about 3 bucks a belt while sears charged that for thier A.O. belts. They also have a J weight belt in 400 grit Silicon Carbide that is great for slack belting.
 
I have the 2x42" Sears as well. The only problem that I had was it ran too fast for some things. I had no tracking problems. I wanted to get a real professional grinder, but I don't do enough knives to justify it. I ended up getting a variable frequency drive unit and a 2HP motor and attaching a pulley where the disc was. Now I can run at almost any speed. I don't know how long this set up will last. I also drive a 6x48" with this same motor and drive.
 
This is a decent enough grinder for a beginner, hobbyist or spare time maker not planning on doing production work. Your only gonna get flat, convex or saber type grinds out of it, but for me, that's enough for now. (I admire a good hollow grind but it's not my thing.)

Beowulf has the right idea. Super Grit is the place to go for a fairly decent selection of belts in 2"x42".

About the tracking, I've not had any problem with that on my 1Hp model. Get the 1Hp model if you can. You won't regret it when it comes time to do some serious hogging.

Having said all that, if you have the financial resources, invest in a Coote 2x72. You have a huge selection of belts to choose from and that is oh so sweet. I'll be getting one eventually.

All the best,
Mike U.
 
Thanks for the heads up on Super Grit, I've been looking for someone who carries this size belt for awhile now.

I've made about 50 knives on my Sears sander, and must say it beats the hell outta hand-filing... I have used a few of the higher end grinders, and I like them, but I can't justify paying over a thousand for a grinder yet.

It's a damn good machine to learn grinding on.
 
Originally posted by BeowulftheGeat
I had no tracking problems with the unit I used for years.

As for belts go to Super Grit

They carry 2 x 42 belts in Blue Zircona, Ceramic, A.O. and Silicon Carbide. I used to get ceramics for about 3 bucks a belt while sears charged that for thier A.O. belts. They also have a J weight belt in 400 grit Silicon Carbide that is great for slack belting.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I still use my Sears and have made a lot of stuff....I have used it for about 4 years and have nothing but good to say about it. For $200 it rocks. I definately want a better, faster machine but this one does everything I want it to do and it has never let me down. It is easy to use and fairly powerful. I have not had the tracking problems and the added plus is the vacuum port on the side. I run a shop vacuum while I grind and it really cuts down on the amount of grit that gets scattered around.

For a beginner or a part timer like myself I think they are a good deal...there doesn't seem to be anything else in this class for this kind of money. IMO.

Thanks for the Supergrit link! I looked on their site before but this is the first time I have found 2X42 belts that are hi performance and *a lot* cheaper than Sears. I'm gonna be doing a lot of grinding in the next few weeks so this will really help a lot.

Brian
 
I had a maker reccomend this 2"/48" grinder for someone starting out. I ordered one but have not received it yet. KBC 2"/48" Belt Grinder. Model 2486 Part #6-150-002. www.kbctools.com They are shipping for free right now and the grinder is priced, I believe at $157. When looking at their site, click on machinery and then scroll down.
 
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that grinder was on sale last week for $88. :eek: A fellow forumite picked one up on their sale. Are you sure it's not still that price? If not, wait a week or two, it will be on sale again soon enough...:rolleyes:

If you really want to get belts for cheap $$ - get them from Discount Abrasives. http://www.geocities.com/discount_abrasives (you have to request prices via email - just tell 'em your belt size)

Kim's great, the shipping's quick, and the belts are just as good as the rest.

Best of luck!

Dan


[added] I now see that you put "sears.com" Go to your local Sears and you'll probably see it on sale there. I saw one just 3-4 days ago here. Like I said, Sears puts their tools on sale like every other week...:D
 
Originally posted by zombiehunter
As soon as I win the lottery I'll get a Hard Core, that's what it'll take for me to get one. I wrote to them and got the information packet and drool over the pictures all the time.hey bud! don't drool! grind and sell enought knives to get the hardcore grinder

-Jared aka "Place Knives"
J.M. Place Handmade Knives...
Click to expand...
;) ;) ;)
 
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